The east coast boasts several notable programs in psychology, and students may find many doctoral programs in Psychology in New Jersey.

As one of the earliest states in the United States, New Jersey carries a proud history of different industries like farming, pharmaceuticals, and petrochemical development. The state was originally named by the Duke of York from England who was given the state by his brother, King Charles II. The state was named after a prominent governor in England.

There are almost nine million people living in New Jersey today, and some of the most notable institutions of higher learning got their start in The Garden State. Princeton University was chartered in 1746 and Rutgers opened in 1766. There are 11 public research universities and state colleges in New Jersey as well as several independent and private colleges around the state. Students at New Jersey colleges benefit from a long, prestigious history of east coast education.

Fairleigh Dickinson University

School of Psychology – Metropolitan Campus

Established in 1942, Fairleigh Dickinson offers students many degree tracts with over 100 choices of study. Total enrollment hits over 12,000 each year and one of the interesting features of this university is that it has full-size locations in 3 different countries. Not only may students attend class in the United States in New Jersey, but there is also a campus in Oxfordshire, England and a campus in Vancouver, British Columbia. Some of the earliest students at Fairleigh were part of the GI bill for education and the college expanded upon its academic offerings in the late 1940s. The university features two different doctoral programs in psychology.

Ph.D. Program in Clinical Psychology

Students will be exposed to the scientist/practitioner model of training while studying at Fairleigh Dickinson and will have the opportunity to participate in several projects that require clinical research. The curriculum is extensive and challenging and is supposed to take at least four years. The program is also full-time and upon graduation students should be able to serve as clinicians and researchers involved in the science of psychology. Fairleigh teaches its students that effective clinicians understand research techniques and the theoretical concepts behind those techniques.

Psy.D. Program in School Psychology

Students who wish to work directly with students and school children will find the school psychology tract at Fairleigh Dickinson a valuable one. The program’s curriculum features courses like Contemporary Issues in School Psychology, Ethnic Diversity and Sociocultural Issues, and Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. Once achieving a degree, students may apply for licensure in New Jersey to work as a psychologist. Graduates may work in a variety of environments like schools, mental health facilities, and hospitals.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

School of Arts and Sciences

Rutgers University is the largest in New Jersey and is the eighth oldest college in the country. During its initial years in operation, the university was a private institution and only admitted male students. It was created in 1746 by a group of ministers from the Presbyterian church. However, in later years it grew significantly when it was named a land-grant college in 1864 after the passage of the Morrill Act of 1862. With around 65,000 students at all of its campuses, there are 175 different departments at the university. The university routinely scores top honors for the quality of its education as a public university.

Psy.D. Program in School Psychology

Schools and other educational environments often require psychologists and preparation for work in these jobs is what the school psychology program offers. The university bases its program on research studies as well as the relationship between psychology and learning. The university ensures that each student enrolled can participate in practicum experiences in active, working schools, as well as other places like mental facilities. Students must undergo an interview during the application process and the school admits only highly qualified students who are enthusiastic about the psychology profession.

Psy.D. Program in Clinical Psychology

Rutgers boasts that one of the strongest features of their Psy.D. program in clinical psychology is the small class size routinely granted to students. The college also focuses on providing students with instructors who are experts in the field and who are also currently practicing psychologists. Students will find that there are several opportunities during study to experience live environments in schools, clinics, and other places where psychologists work with the public. The program also places significant emphasis on graduate entrance exams, so it’s best to apply only when grades reach the minimum threshold, if not higher.

Seton Hall University

College of Education and Human Services

Seton Hall University is a private school and is one of the largest Catholic universities in the state. However, the school isn’t a tremendous size and counts between 9,000 and 10,000 students under enrollment. The school was created to ensure higher education was impacted positively by the Catholic faith, but students don’t need to be Catholic in order to attend the college today. Interestingly, the college underwent several fires in the early years of its existence, which made it difficult to expand and grow in the 1860s and beyond. It wasn’t until the 1930s that the university started admitting women and in 1951, the college boasted the first female dean of a law school in the United States.

Ph.D., Counseling Psychology

Seton Hall University seeks to prepare its psychology students for work in the professional community where science, research, and practice meet. The school recognizes that counseling psychologists find work in a variety of different settings and so the curriculum at Seton Hall is designed to accommodate many potential environments. Students may also focus in one of nine specializations including multicultural studies, pediatric psychology, and several others. During interviews for admittance, the school seeks students who are able to communicate well with peers and faculty and who will make a meaningful difference to the program.

Accreditations

American Psychological Association (APA)

American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (CoA)

Commission On Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE)

Students who wish to obtain a doctorate in psychology should expect to take classes for anywhere from three to seven years. An Ed.D. degree will tend to require around three to five years. A Ph.D. will usually need four to seven years. Choice of program may also require a student to decide whether he or she wants to practice psychology in an active environment or as a researcher. The majority of psychology programs at the doctorate level require the full-time study of students, and it’s not recommended for students to work while enrolled in a Ph.D. program. Fortunately, students who wish to study in The Garden State have several doctoral programs in psychology in New Jersey from which to choose.